Florian Wirtz has well and truly arrived at Liverpool, but it did take him some time to get to the levels we saw at Bayer Leverkusen.
The German continued his hot streak on Saturday, coming up with a goal and an assist as Liverpool eased past Newcastle.
We know who played well, but did any Liverpool player concern you against Newcastle?
It wasn't all good…
Hugo Ekitike celebrates on the pitch at Anfield after Liverpool's win over Newcastle United in the Premier League (Getty Images/Kate McShane).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Kate McShane
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It’s more evidence that the £116 million the Reds had to cough up was money well spent.
Before the action kicked off at Anfield, Steven Gerrard discussed the new Wirtz we are seeing, and what he puts the explosion in form down to.
Steven Gerrard has seen a change in Florian Wirtz since joining Liverpool
When he arrived at the club last summer, Wirtz predicted plenty of success in his first season.
It didn’t start out that way, with the 22-year-old unable to buy a goal in his first months. Since Christmas, though, he looks like a player renewed, and Gerrard has taken notice.
Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the Newcastle game, the Liverpool legend explained the change.
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He said: “The good thing about Liverpool fans is they’re very patient, especially with young talent.
“What I will give him, is that even when he wasn’t firing on all cylinders early on, he still had moments of brilliance, he still had little moments where you thought, ‘Hello, that’s going to come, once he can find his feet consistently.’
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Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images
“It also looks like they’ve built him up in the gym now. He looks like he’s carrying on a few more kilos to me; he’s used to the duels and the challenges from behind. Make no mistake – we’ve got a real talent on our hands.”
Gerrard likes what he sees from Liverpool’s new star playmaker. Don’t we all?
Florian Wirtz still has more to give Liverpool
Seeing Wirtz ascend to where he is now shouldn’t have come as a surprise to anyone.
If you watched him in the Bundesliga, you knew this was his level.
But Liverpool didn’t break £100 million for his current level. At 22, he has so much room for development.
Which player does Florian Wirtz remind you of the most?
He has been compared before to Lionel Messi, Luka Modric and now Peter Beardsley
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 2-0 during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
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If he continues to put in the work off the pitch, his physical readiness for the Premier League will only improve.
It’s hard to think he could be more technically proficient, but he’s still years off his prime. Just how good Wirtz can become, we’ll have to wait and see.
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